Adelaide

Green living, exceptional food and a dash of wine: that's Adelaide

Even with a population of slightly more than a million, Adelaide is a city where residents and tourists feel they’ve got all the breathing space in the world. It’s Australia’s most environmentally sustainable city with free city bikes for hire, the world’s first solar powered bus to take you around and green buildings and homes. It’s an impeccably accessible city, thanks to Colonel William Light, who gave Adelaidians its grid layout and therefore wide boulevards, with large public arenas, entirely surrounded by beautiful parklands. Everything is said to be only 20 minutes’ away.

Adelaide is the gateway to Australia’s lauded wine region – the Barossa Valley, which is only an hour from the city centre. Sample locally grown seasonal produce and some of the best wines in the world.

When to go

Adelaide has hot, dry summers and mild winters, thanks to its coastal location on the southern edge of Australia.

Rainfall, and sometimes hail, usually happens in the winter months. Snow in the metro area is not common (bar light falls at Mount Lofty and in the Adelaide Hills). It’s a year-round destination, unless you prefer your weather a little warmer.

The months of February and March are widely considered to offer the best weather due to pleasant temperatures and little rainfall. June tends to be the wettest month of the year. The winter months (June - August) can get a little chilly, so bring winter threads.

Flying with Jetstar

Getting around

There’s the Adelaide Airport Flyer offering door-to-door minibus transfers to and from Adelaide outer suburbs and surrounding areas. You can also pick up a free bike from one of 14 bike depots around the city centre and North Adelaide. The City-Loop bus runs seven days a week. You can also hop on the shuttle tram, which operates between South Terrace and the City West Campus of the University of South Australia on North Terrace – travel in either direction is free. Tindo, the solar-powered bus, takes you between the city and North Adelaide for free.

Airport information

Things to do

Coast with the most

Discover the seaside town of Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Ever been on a horse-drawn tram? Take a ride across the causeway and see penguins on Granite Island. Or why not board the SteamRanger train or visit the South Australian Whale Centre? Experience the Murray River on a houseboat and don’t miss Coorong National Park on the way. Try the famous Coonawarra red rock lobsters at Limestone Coast.

In good taste

Immerse yourself in all things gastronomic by signing up for a food tour led by A Taste of South Australia. Meet chefs, winemakers, producers and other food experts as part of the experience. There are various tours to choose from and you can also request for an itinerary tailored to incorporate one of the many colourful festivals South Australia is renowned for.

Flower power

The Adelaide Botanic Garden is one of the 29 parks that make up Adelaide’s famous parklands. Next to it is the Adelaide Zoo (where Wang Wang and Funi live: the southern hemisphere’s only giant pandas!). The Adelaide Botanic Garden is an oasis in the middle of the city: a 16ha space filled with native Australian, exotic and ornamental plants. You can also join a free guided walking tour provided by the Friends of the Botanic Garden. Tours leave from the Schomburgk Pavilion at 10.30am daily.

Deutsch treat

Need a shot of Deutsch culture? Take a day trip to Hahndorf, one of the most famous towns in the Adelaide Hills. It’s actually the oldest surviving settlement in Australia and boasts a strong German heritage. Nearby, Cleland Wildlife Park offers the opportunity to feed kangaroos and hold a koala! Don’t forget to indulge in copious chocolate and wine samples.

Beachy retreat

Other states may hog the beach tag, but Adelaide is no slouch. Catch a tram from Adelaide to Glenelg and get those swimming togs on. Immerse yourself in an al fresco dining experience on Holdfast Marina or Jetty Road. Keep going and dive into the Port Noarlunga reef. Say goodbye to the day by watching a sunset from Port Willunga.